Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“You okay, son?” Torch asks.
“Everything I want is right in front of me, Dad. I’m just not sure I’ll be able to hold onto it.”
His gaze moves from me to Beau and the kids. Skull, Pez and Spider join them and Beau’s laughter echoes in the room. The sound hits me right in the gut. I close my eyes at the joy and hunger that slams through me. I want her with me for the rest of my life.
The. Rest. Of. My. Life.
I knew it before. I knew it down in my soul. Yet, after this morning’s mess with Robin, I crave it. The thought of being without her makes me panic. Since the birth of my son, I’ve lived my life closed off to anything and everyone except my son and family. I’ve been half a man—completely damaged. That’s why it was so easy to push Beau away that first morning with her. I wanted her even then but couldn’t open myself up to her. When you spend as much time as I have alone, it’s fucking painful to let someone in.
But fuck if Beau isn’t there in a way that I know she always will be.
“Be the man I know you are, son. Make sure Beau knows you’re in this for the long haul and that you will always have her back. Trust me, she needs that more than you understand right now—probably more than she realizes herself.”
I nod, thinking Dad makes it sound simple. I can’t help but think that it can’t be. After all, nothing has ever been simple in my life. I doubt it’s going to start now.
Chapter 18
Beau
I’m freaking light-headed by the time I make it into my bedroom. Hunter’s shirt falls far enough on me that it could be a dress. Still, I’ll feel better dressed. I would have preferred it before now, but Ty seemed to want me with him, so I stayed. I didn’t want to rock the boat. The poor kid had been through enough this morning and honestly, I wanted to watch over him. That sounds silly, because it’s not my place, but he needed a gentle touch. I needed to give him that. I can’t explain why, I just knew I did. I close my eyes, trying to ignore the bed where Hunter and I spent the morning before life interrupted us.
God, my brain is a mess.
I walk to my bathroom, locking the door behind me. I need a shower and clean clothes before I head back out there. The guys are still eating so hopefully I’ll have some quiet time to get my head together before having to face anyone again. At least that’s my plan.
I get through my shower, wrap my favorite bath towel around me, and complete my morning routine. There’s a sense of calm inside me now, and I’m grateful. I may not know what is going to happen, but after this morning it’s clear I need to proceed cautiously. There’s more than just Hunter and I involved and I’m not sure I realized that before—even if I should have.
I open the door, walking toward my closet, wondering how I can get Hunter to agree to slow things down.
“Take the towel off,” Hunter orders, his voice a hoarse growl.
I let out a squeal, jumping despite knowing who is in the room with me. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I snap.
“I want to see my woman naked. Take it off.”
“No way. Your family is out there. I’m getting dressed because apparently, we have to go to the police station to file a report on your psycho-ex.”
“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t want today to go this way. I wanted to keep you and Ty out of the ugly side of my life with that bitch.”
“I’d get after you for calling her names, because clearly you cared for her once. If you didn’t you wouldn’t have Ty. Yet, based on what I saw this morning, she clearly is a bitch.”
“I was a horny teenage boy, and Robin was pretty and pretended to be a decent woman. That’s about the extent of the relationship I had with her.”
“You have a child—”
“I don’t have proof other than she lied about being on birth control, but I suspect she purposely damaged the rubber. I don’t regret it because I have Ty, but you need to know the anger I have concerning Robin goes pretty fucking deep.”
“I think I got that from watching the two of you.” I let out a sigh as I walk toward him. “I’m sorry, Hunter. Ty is all torn up and it’s my fault.”
“How in the fuck do you figure that?” he asks, reaching up, capturing my hand, and pulling me down. He guides me so that I land in his lap, and he holds me close. I should protest, but I don’t have it in me. His hold is comforting. I don’t know what it says about me, but I’m weak enough to just allow myself to be weak and soak it in.